Guardian Augmenter
Creature — Troll Wizard
Flash
Commander creatures you control get +2/+2.
Commanders you control have hexproof.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- G
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Commander 2021
- Price
- $8.52
- EDHREC rank
- #2955
Guardian Augmenter lands as a three-mana 3/3 that hands your commander hexproof and a +2/+2 boost — substantial protection stapled to a body that pulls its own weight in combat. In decks where your commander is the engine, like Maarika, Brutal Gladiator, that hexproof clause is the entire reason to run it.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Maarika, Brutal Gladiator
Maarika, Brutal Gladiator attacks into blockers and triggers off damage dealt, so keeping her alive through combat is the whole game plan — Guardian Augmenter's hexproof shuts off the targeted removal that would end your turn before it starts.
Zimone, Infinite Analyst
Zimone, Infinite Analyst generates value every time she untaps, making her a priority removal target; Guardian Augmenter buys her the protection she needs to fire that engine repeatedly.
Agatha of the Vile Cauldron
Agatha of the Vile Cauldron wants to sit in the red zone and accumulate counters, and Guardian Augmenter's +2/+2 plus hexproof lets her attack without the constant threat of a fatal instant in response.
Kotis, the Fangkeeper
Kotis, the Fangkeeper builds a board state around creatures, and Guardian Augmenter slots in as early protection that doubles as a relevant body in a go-wide strategy.
Sergeant John Benton
Sergeant John Benton plays in a value-oriented midrange shell where commander longevity matters; Guardian Augmenter gives him the hexproof buffer that keeps the advantage engine running past the early turns.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Guardian Augmenter is a Commander card through and through — the ability targets your commander specifically, a concept that only exists in that format. In Legacy and Vintage, where it's technically legal, a three-mana 3/3 with a conditional aura effect doesn't compete with the raw power of those formats and sees no meaningful play. Oathbreaker is the one other context where the design makes mechanical sense, since that format also features a named permanent you're incentivized to protect. Commander is where Guardian Augmenter earns its slot, specifically in Voltron and attack-trigger strategies where protecting the commander from a single removal spell is worth a full card.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Budget Alternatives
Cheaper options that do most of the same work
Swiftfoot Boots and Lightning Greaves both grant hexproof or shroud at one to two mana, cost under $3 combined, and are the default replacements if budget is the constraint — they're equipment rather than creatures, though, so they don't contribute to synergies that count bodies. If you want a creature-based alternative, Sylvan Safekeeper offers repeatable protection at one mana for under $4, though the land sacrifice cost is real.
Price Context
Current price
$8.52 mid tier
At $8.52, Guardian Augmenter sits in the mid tier — more than a bulk pickup but far from a format staple's price tag. It's a niche card with a narrow, loyal audience, which keeps the price stable rather than volatile.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Maarika, Brutal Gladiator
- Zimone, Infinite Analyst
- Agatha of the Vile Cauldron
- Kotis, the Fangkeeper
- Sergeant John Benton
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.